In-person and virtual: Venue to be announced, New York
Telling your ESG story
Following on from the success of our previous ESG Integration Forums, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary are back again this summer to discuss the outcomes of the proxy season and help companies respond to the growing demand for improved ESG practices.
We will once again bring together investor relations, finance, sustainability, governance, risk and compliance experts to discuss the underlying factors that have driven the rise of ESG, learn about investor expectations, deepen shareholder engagement, help companies identify and act on material risks, and better manage shareholder proposals in the ‘new normal’.
The format, far removed from a traditional conference, will consist of fast-paced panel discussions, exclusive investor Q&A, face-to-face networking and topical roundtable discussions. Attendees will include investors, analysts, IR, governance and sustainability professionals at publicly listed companies from across North America.
Further details about the agenda, speakers and venue will be announced shortly. In the meantime, you can find out more about our newly launched awards by clicking here. Don’t forget to register your interest here to be the first to know when the full event details are announced.
We know things change. You are eligible for a full refund should you not be able to join us on the day. You can turn your ticket into a virtual pass, offer the pass to a colleague, put the booking towards a future event or get a full refund. Book with confidence and join us in person at this unique forum designed to help listed companies develop an integrated approach to responding to growing investor expectations in 2022!
NIRI IRC® CREDENTIAL
Holders of the NIRI IRC® credential can earn up to 4 professional development units (PDUs) per day. IRC-credentialed speakers may also earn PDUs. More information is available at www.niri.org/certification.
For our awards categories, individuals and companies are given the opportunity to submit written entries, free of charge, to be put forward to a panel of expert judges made up of investment professionals and IR Magazine editorial team members.
We are no longer accepting entries for 2022. We will be in contact with those who submitted entries by the end of May.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 8004 5339.
Please note that categories are subject to change based on the final number of submissions received. Some categories may be split by market cap size.
Founder, Whistle Stop Capital
Non-executive director, Associated Banc-corp, ACV Auctions, Hochschild Mining, Legg Mason Closed End Funds
Editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
CEO, Proxy Impact
Research director, FCLTGlobal
Founder & director, NYU Stern School of Business’s Center for Sustainable Business
Key themes on the agenda this year include:
• Proxy season 2022: Learning from the latest AGM season
• How energy security, supply chain concerns and inflation has changed ESG priorities in 2022
• Addressing increased expectations on climate
• How human capital factors are changing sustainable investing
• Privacy, pay and politics in governance
• Preparing for effective oversight of ESG issues
• Where does ESG sit at your company?
• What are investor ESG expectations this year
• How to stay ahead of the curve on ESG disclosures
• Building and communicating an impactful ESG narrative
• Finding data-driven solutions to critical ESG issues
We will announce details of the 2022 agenda shortly
All times displayed are in Eastern Time (ET)
10:30 AM
Welcome to the ESG Integration Forum – Summer 2021!
Ben Ashwell, editor, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
10:40 AM
NEW: Research rockpiles – The latest stats and facts on ESG
Ben Ashwell presents an overview of the latest IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary’s research on ESG.
• Hear the latest research from the perspective of companies and investors
• Track the ESG trends by understanding what has changed in the past 12-months
• Take home facts and figures related to how your peers are approaching ESG
Ben Ashwell, editor, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
10:45 AM
What have we learned about investor ESG expectations from this proxy season?
In this session, we look to understand the type of ESG proposals and factors that are top of mind for shareholders, which issues are gathering support from investors and which ESG issues are likely to attract future proposals.
• Learn about the ESG issues that should be top of mind for boards
• Understand what funds are trying to accomplish in their proxy voting
• Discover where the gap is between management and shareholders on ESG-related proposals
• Discuss emerging trends like say-on-climate and whether it is likely to have an impact in the US in the future
Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
Matt DiGuiseppe, vice president of research & ESG, Diligent
Manisha Singh, senior portfolio manager, AIG Funds
11:15 AM
ESG trend watch: International drivers and domestic policy
The Biden administration seems intent on putting the US back in the driving seat on climate action and with Gary Gensler appointed as chair of the SEC, we discuss global drivers for ESG and whether the US is likely to follow suit.
• Learn about the changes in policies globally and debate if they would fit in the US
• Understand the impact and unintended consequences of increased ESG regulation
• Debate whether ESG disclosure will become mandatory in the US and in what form it will take
Moderator: Ben Ashwell, editor, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
Alex Gold, head of ESG and chief executive officer, BWD Strategic
Neil Stewart, director of corporate outreach, Value Reporting Foundation
Lizbeth Wright, vice president and chief counsel for corporate and securities, Eaton Corporation
11:45 AM
Meet the attendees: Networking
Match with other attendees for a short, fun introduction using our virtual networking tool: it’s as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Visit the networking area and click connect
2. Get randomly matched with another attendee for a three-minute introduction
3. Exchange contact information or move on to the next attendee: it’s up to you!
12:00 PM
Climate Change: What investors want
Climate change has been the talk of the proxy season, but what exactly are investors’ expectations of companies regarding their approach to climate reporting and action?
• Understand the top trends and critical issues related to climate change
• Learn how companies can integrate climate considerations into their organizations and produce informative, decision-useful disclosures related to climate change
• Hear about Wellington’s approach to climate change research, advocacy and integration into its engagement and investment processes
Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
Ari Frankel, managing director and head of ESG, Solebury Trout
Chris Goolgasian, senior managing director and director of climate research, Wellington Management
12:45 PM
Roundtable discussion: Your ESG questions answered
Join this unique and interactive session for an open discussion related to all aspects of ESG. This is an opportunity to share experiences, opinions and understand how your peers are approaching their own ESG programs.
13:15 PM
STREAM A: Getting started and managing ESG on a shoestring
All ESG programs need to start somewhere and not everyone has the luxury of unlimited resources to dedicate to an ESG program. This session will focus on the steps you can take when starting or ramping up your ESG program and prioritizing efforts as a small or mid-cap issuer.
• Understand what activities are needed to start creating an ESG story that resonates with investors
• Discover which metrics and frameworks are most important to prioritize for an ESG program in its infancy
• Learn how to get buy-in from management and the board on your ESG disclosure efforts
Moderator: Ben Ashwell, editor, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
Andrea DeMarco, senior vice president of investor relations, corporate communications and ESG, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Eliza Riego, head of product and service innovation, TMX Group
Hunter Wells, vice president of investor relations, Century Communities
13:15 PM
STREAM B: Strengthen the board’s relationship with ESG
An increasing number of boards are setting public climate targets, and companies start linking executive compensation to ESG metrics. Join this session to learn how to manage the relationship that the board has with ESG.
• Hear how teams have presented a forward-thinking strategy to their board to ensure buy-in from the top
• Learn about the ESG metrics that companies link to executive compensation and how it has impacted decision making in the business
• Understand how to approach public targets and ensure the board are comfortable committing to these targets
Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
Eileen Kamerick, non-executive director, ACV Auctions, Legg Mason Closed End Funds, AIG Funds, Associated Banc-corp and Hochschild Mining
Chad Spitler, founder and chief executive officer, Third Economy
13:45 PM
How to use ESG to drive better stock performance and reduce your cost of capital
Discuss the role ESG plays in improving financial performance and the impact it has depending on the stage of your ESG journey
• Understand the drivers behind ESG’s ability to improve Return on Equity and cost of capital
• Learn about the extent that financial performance is impacted depending on your level of reporting in comparison to peers
• Discover whether leading, laggard, or improving companies benefit more from ESG reporting
Moderator: Ben Ashwell, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
Tensie Whelan, director, NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business
Ulrich Atz, research fellow, NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business
14:15 PM
Meet the attendees: Networking
Match with other attendees for a short, fun introduction using our virtual networking tool: it’s as easy as 1-2-3:
14:30 PM
Beyond the proxy: Mastering year-round ESG engagement
Asset owners and asset managers have stepped up their approach to active ownership, and Covid-19 has changed the nature of communications between corporates and the capital markets. Engagement and communication with the buy-side and sell-side are critical to a well-run investor-facing ESG program, and this session will explore how companies can capitalize on the opportunities for increased engagement outside of the proxy season.
• Discuss the benefits of continuous shareholder engagement around ESG issues
• Learn how to get the balance right between achieving a continuous conversation on ESG with the markets and maximizing management’s time
• Discover how to develop a proactive approach to off-season engagement to clarify what investors want from ESG information.
Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
Martin Jarzebowski, director of ESG and responsible investing, Federated Hermes
Mei Ni Chu, director of investor relations, Voya Financial
Joe Vicari, managing director and practice lead for communications and customer experience, Broadridge
15:00 PM
Shareholder ID and targeting ESG stakeholders
We talk about the best way to find the investors that fit with your ESG profile and share how to communicate your data and story with those firms and indexes that are most relevant to you.
• Debate what is more important: Narrative, data or ESG scores as capital markets and ESG continue to evolve
• Understand the different collection methods that investment firms and indexes use and which qualities they look for in sustainable companies and learn where to focus your efforts
• Discuss how best to identify investors and communicate your ESG risks and opportunities with them in a way that resonates with their efforts
Moderator: Ben Ashwell, editor, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
Chad Reed, vice president, investor relations and ESG, Hannon Armstrong
Maheen Sayeed, senior associate, IHS Markit
15:30 PM
Data gathering and prioritizing your efforts
In this session, we will discuss the latest trends and share best practices on identifying, collecting, and disclosing material ESG information.
• Understand the latest reporting trends and whether corporate reporting can evolve beyond the 10-K to enable better ESG disclosure
• Learn how to identify material issues and improve your systems for collecting and disclosing relevant data
• Turn data into action: Understand how to utilize your ESG data to mitigate risk and add value to your stakeholders
Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
Alexandra Deigman, head of investor relations, Lazard
Jennifer Motles, chief sustainability officer, Philip Morris International
16:00 PM
Summary of discussions and end of the conference
Ben Ashwell, editor, Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
To inquire about speaking at the 2022 forum, please contact [email protected] or call +44 7889 883 457
Steven Wade
head of event content
IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary
Steve Wade is a content researcher and conference producer at IR Magazine where he is responsible for crowd-sourcing intelligence on the big global issues facing investor relations. Steve also creates events where the IROs and the wider financial community can discuss, debate and learn about ways to develop the IR function.
Prior to IR Magazine, Steven’s background has been in corporate social responsibility and responsible investment. During his time at Ethical Corporation (now Reuters Events), Steve launched the ESG symposium, an event focused on connecting the socially responsible investment community with corporate sustainability leaders at listed companies. Steve was a judge for the Deloitte Green Frog Awards, celebrating the best corporate reporting in Eastern Europe. Steve also presented research at the Global Sustainable Event Summit in London and has spoken about extra-financial reporting with the United Nations Global Compact, the World Bank and the Polish Ministry of Finance.
Steve has a degree in Event Management and enjoys playing rugby in his spare time.
Neil Stewart
Director of corporate outreach
Value Reporting Foundation
Neil Stewart is the Value Reporting Foundation’s New York-based Director of Corporate Outreach, advancing awareness of the organization’s resources and helping companies world-wide with implementation. He is a member of the Value Reporting Foundation’s Assurance Task Force and oversees the SASB Standards Consultant Content Program. Neil brings to the Value Reporting Foundation more than 25 years of experience in and around investor relations and corporate governance. Previously he was at Citigroup as VP IR Advisory on the ADR team, helping non-US issuers develop IR and ESG strategies. Formerly Editorial & Research Director of both IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary magazine, Neil is a board member of NIRI NY, the New York chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute.
Ulrich Atz
Research fellow
NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business
Ulrich Atz is a Research Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Business and part of the NYU Stern Doctoral Program in Accounting. In his prior role as Associate Researcher, he provided quantitative expertise and co-authored the article on the Return on Sustainability Investment (honored with a “best paper” award). His research interests cover sustainability disclosures and ESG information, financial and business innovation, and statistical methods for interpreting data.
He also served as the Chief Measurement & Technology Officer at NYU’s HUMAN Project, a research platform and mHealth startup until its launch as a private company. Before moving to New York City, he worked at the Open Data Institute (ODI), a world-leading organization advocating for the innovative use of open data. As Startup Programme Manager, he grew the number of incubated startups from 25 to 52 and oversaw the ODI’s involvement at the Open Data Incubator for Europe, a €7.8M EU Horizon 2020 project. Over the years, he has trained and consulted hundreds of people on data, statistics, and innovation. He holds a Diploma (BSc + MSc) in Economics from the University of Mannheim and an MSc in Social Research Methods (Statistics) from the London School of Economics. He grew up in South Tyrol, a bilingual region in the Italian Alps.
Tensie Whelan
Director
NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business
Tensie Whelan is Clinical Professor of Business and Society and the Director of the Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern School of Business, where she is bringing her 25 years of experience working on local, national and international environmental and sustainability issues to engage businesses in proactive and innovative mainstreaming of sustainability.
As President of the Rainforest Alliance, she built the organization from a $4.5 million to $50 million budget, transforming the engagement of business with sustainability, recruiting 5,000 companies in more than 60 countries to work with Rainforest Alliance. She transformed the Rainforest Alliance frog into an internationally recognized and credible brand. Her previous work included serving as Executive Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters, Vice President of the National Audubon Society, Managing Editor of Ambio, a journal of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, and a journalist in Latin America.
Tensie has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics and was a Citi Fellow in Leadership and Ethics at NYU Stern. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and corporate advisory boards for companies such as Unilever and Nespresso and currently serves on the advisory boards of ALO Advisors, Buzz on Earth, Giant Ventures, Arabesque and Inherent Group. She was most recently appointed to the board of InvestIndustrial SPAC, and is an Advisor to the Future Economy Project for Harvard Business Review and is a member of the “Exploring the Future of Sustainable Production and Consumption” Working Group of the Council on Competitiveness. Tensie holds a B.A. from New York University, an M.A. from American University, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Owner President Management (OPM) Program. She was awarded the Stern Faculty Excellence Award in 2020.
Maheen Sayeed
Senior associate
IHS Markit
Maheen Sayeed is a senior associate at IHS Markit
Manisha Singh
Senior portfolio manager
AIG Funds
Lizbeth Wright
Vice president and chief counsel of corporate & securities
Eaton
Liz serves as Eaton’s VP and Chief Counsel – Corporate & Securities. In this capacity she is responsible for corporate and securities law compliance. As a seasoned securities, governance and finance lawyer, she advises on all matters relating to disclosure (including ESG), securities regulation, capital markets transactions, corporate governance and corporate law. Liz joined Eaton in 2004.
Prior to joining Eaton, Liz was an associate at Hahn, Loeser & Parks LLP in Cleveland, where her practice focused on 1934 Act compliance, corporate governance, capital markets and public company mergers and acquisitions. She graduated summa cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a received her BA from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.
Alexandra Deigman
Head of investor relations
Lazard
Mei Ni Chu
Director of investor relations
Voya Financial
Eileen Kamerick
Non-executive director
ACV Auctions, Legg Mason Closed End Funds, AIG Funds, Associated Banc-corp, Hochschild Mining
Ms. Kamerick consults and lectures on corporate governance and compliance matters and is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow and has completed the NACD Director Certification exam. She previously served as CFO of such leading companies as BP Amoco Americas, Leo Burnett, Heidrick & Struggles, and Houlihan Lokey She began her career as a lawyer at the law firm of Skadden Arps and she holds a JD and an MBA, with honors, in Finance and International Business from the University of Chicago. She holds a BA from Boston College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was valedictorian. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Associated Banc-Corp, AIG Funds, Hochschild Mining, plc, and 23 closed end Legg Mason mutual funds. She served on the Board of Directors for ServiceMaster and IRI before both companies were purchased by private equity firms. She qualifies as an SEC financial expert and chairs three audit committees and one corporate governance committee. She was profiled as a Director to Watch in 2016 by Directors and Boards Magazine and in The Board Game: How Smart Women Become Corporate Directors. She was named among the Most Influential Corporate Directors for 2019 by WomenInc magazine. She also serves on the National Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association. She is a lecturer at University of Chicago Law School, Georgetown Law Center, and University of Iowa College of Law and for the NACD Battlefield to Boardroom board readiness program.
Martin Jarzebowski
Director of ESG and responsible investing
Federated Hermes
Martin is the Director of ESG & Responsible Investing, leading firm-wide ESG integration and active engagement across all asset classes. Federated Hermes has 68 ESG subject-matter experts and one of the world’s largest ESG engagement databases with 16 years of proprietary data analytics representing over $1.5 trillion in assets under stewardship. He is a senior member of Federated Hermes’ Risk Management Committee, Proxy Voting Committee, Sustainability Leaders Council, ESG Faculty and is a former Equity Portfolio Manager.
Martin is an Adjunct Professor of Sustainable Finance at the University of Rochester, member of the CFA Institute ESG Technical Committee, member of the Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Advisory Council, serves as an advisory member on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and is a monthly Forbes ESG Contributor.
He graduated from Cornell University magna cum laude with a BS in applied economics, earned a MS in law & accounting from the London School of Economics (LSE) and completed a post-grad in advanced risk management from the Yale School of Management. Martin is a CFA charterholder and FSA credential holder.
Joseph Vicari
Managing director and practice lead for communications and customer experience
Broadridge
Joseph Vicari, Managing director and ESG practice lead for communications and customer experience, Broadridge.
Joseph is responsible for developing innovative solutions for all ESG stakeholders in areas of advisory services, data, and analytics at Broadridge. Joseph has broad experience in product innovation and development, leading large scale strategic technology projects and developing industry transforming communication channels. During his career he has started and led business units, a technology innovation lab, and had various leading roles in strategic planning and development. Joseph’s ventures have led to joint ventures, partnerships and reseller agreements with major multi-national companies, boutique vendors and securities clearing companies.
Christopher Goolgasian
Senior managing director and director of climate research
Wellington management
As director of Climate Research on the Sustainable Investment Team, Chris focuses on investment solutions that share an enduring nature and require critical strategic thinking. He spearheads a collaborative initiative between Wellington Management and Woodwell Climate Research Center (WCRC) to integrate climate science and asset management. This alliance, launched in 2018, is focused on creating investor tools and insights to better understand how and where climate change may impact global capital markets.
Prior to joining Wellington Management in 2014, Chris was head of Portfolio Management – Americas within the Investment Solutions Group at State Street Global Advisors (2010 – 2014). Before joining State Street, he held a number of different investment roles at Fidelity Investments and Pyramis Global Advisors beginning in 1997. Previously, he was a CPA with Kaplan, Moran, Digennaro in the public accounting field (1995 – 1997).
Chris earned both his BA (1995) with a concentration in accounting and his MBA (1997) with a concentration in finance from Bryant University. Additionally, he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternatives Investment Analyst designations, and he is a CPA. He is also a professor of finance at Bryant University.
Chad Reed
Vice president of investor relations and ESG
Hannon Armstrong
Chad leads investor relations and ESG strategy for Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI), a leading investor in climate change solutions.
Previously, he served in various roles, including structured finance, risk management, and investor relations, with TerraForm Power – an integrated renewable energy company now owned by Brookfield Asset Management. Chad is also a co-founder of and current Board member with Blue Forest Finance, a non-profit focused on harnessing financial innovation to design sustainable solutions to systemic climate resilience challenges. Chad started his career as an intelligence officer operating primarily in the Middle East.
Chad holds degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and the George Washington University.
Andrea DeMarco
Senior vice president of investor relations, corporate communications and ESG
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Andrea DeMarco serves as the high-profile face and voice of the organization to Wall Street and business and financial media. DeMarco consistently ranks at the top of the prestigious Institutional Investor All-American Executive Team rankings and was recognized by Wall Street as the #1 Overall Best Investor Relations Officer in the Leisure sector for two consecutive years. Under her direction, the Company’s Investor Relations program swept first place overall ranking across all eight categories including Best CEO, Best CFO, Best Investor Relations Program, Best Investor Relations Team and Best Crisis Management Amid COVID-19.
DeMarco has a diverse background of experience in finance, sales, marketing, revenue management and corporate financial planning and analysis. She was an instrumental part of the management team that led the company into previously unchartered territories including a highly successful initial public offering. In addition, she was a part of multiple capital market transactions including eleven equity follow on offerings, the highly successful acquisition of Prestige Cruises International, Inc., and multiple capital market transactions amidst the global pandemic raising nearly $8 billion over a twelve-month timeframe.
Chad Spitler
Founder and chief executive officer
Third Economy
Chad Spitler is the Founder and CEO of Third Economy, a sustainable investment research and advisory firm. With over 25+ years of experience building sustainable investment capabilities and corporate sustainability strategies, Chad was recognized in 2020 by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) as one of the “100 most influential people in corporate governance”. Formerly a Partner at PJT CamberView, Chad and his team helped public companies develop engagement strategies with their investors particularly around complex or contested shareholder matters. He is most widely known for his role helping to build what are now BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship, Sustainable Investing and Corporate Sustainability teams. As a Managing Director at the world’s largest asset manager, Chad led the team responsible for analyzing how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors may impact financial performance, and integrated that analysis into product development, proxy voting and corporate engagement. His work helped facilitate billions of dollars of capital into sustainable investments and catalyzed public companies to integrate long-term thinking into their business strategies.
Chad speaks both publicly and privately with regulators, policy makers, non-profits, academics and the largest global companies and investors, to further the field of sustainable investing and transition the capital markets to a lower carbon economy. He is a member of the Finance Working Group of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the Dean’s External Advisory Board of the University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability. He is an Adjunct Professor at San Francisco State University and Presidio Graduate School, and holds an M.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a B.S. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Ari Frankel
Managing director and head of ESG
Solebury Trout
Ari Frankel is a Managing Director and Head of ESG for Solebury Trout’s ESG 360 Team. In his role, Ari advises public and private companies and funds across industries on best practices in ESG governance, strategy, goal-setting, reporting, communications, investor relations, and capital raising and preservation.
Prior to joining Solebury, Ari led sustainability at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, an S&P 500 REIT, where he initiated and managed ESG programming, goal-setting, reporting, and communications. During his tenure at Alexandria, the company issued $1.9 billion in green bonds, achieved “A” disclosure scores and 5-Star Ratings from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, and was named in the top 3 most sustainable REITs by Barron’s. He also served as the sustainability committee chair for NAREIT and on the Fitwel Leadership Advisory Board.
Prior to Alexandria, Ari was the Head of ESG Strategy, Real Estate, for Deutsche Asset Management. During this time he served as the North America Co-Chair of United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative, and worked with investment consultants on ESG matters through his participation in the Ceres Investor Network on Climate Risk & Sustainability.
Ari received his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a LEED Accredited Professional, a Fitwel Ambassador, and a trained Climate Reality Leader.
Alex Gold
Head of ESG and chief executive officer
BWD Strategic
A trained biologist, Alex has an ability to pinpoint exactly how organisations rely on social and natural resources to create value. Lateral thinking comes easily too – a skill he attributes to an unconventional upbringing involving his parents’ seven marriages!
He has worked across two continents as a consummate sustainability professional, having honed his strategy and reporting capabilities in senior management roles at ASX-listed Dexus and Stockland.
Alex has a PhD in climate change risk management. He is an expert in delivering integrated reporting, corporate sustainability strategies, scenario analyses and the TCFD, as well as helping companies respond to key ESG investor benchmarks.
Born and raised in the USA, Alex spent over a decade as a professional in Australia and is a dual citizen of both countries. He heads up BWD’s New York office.
Matt DiGuiseppe
Vice president of research & ESG
Diligent
Matt DiGuiseppe is the Vice President of Research & ESG at Diligent Corporation, leading provider of secure board communication and governance, risk and compliance software used by over 700,000 corporate leaders globally. In his role, Matt leads the ESG (environmental, social and governance) Center of Excellence and a research team focused on ESG topics. He is also responsible for ensuring that Diligent meets its ESG commitments, including a pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Previously, as Head of Americas Asset Stewardship at State Street Global Advisors, Matt and his colleagues were responsible for developing and implementing SSGA’s global proxy voting policies and guidelines across all investment strategies and managing SSGA’s proxy voting activities and issuer engagement on material ESG issues. He was also a member of the internal Proxy Review Committee. Prior to this role he held a similar position on the Nuveen (fka TIAA) Stewardship & Corporate Governance Team.
Matt has participated in numerous industry groups and speaks frequently on ESG matters. He was the founding chairperson of the Investor Stewardship Group (ISG), which advanced a set of corporate governance and stewardship principles for the US market that are backed by over 70 members with assets under management in excess of US $32 trillion.
Jennifer Motles
Chief sustainability officer
Philip Morris International
Jennifer is an International and Human Rights lawyer and Chief Sustainability Officer for Philip Morris International (PMI). Ms. Motles joined the company in 2015, when she helped craft PMI’s sustainability strategy, ensuring it was intrinsically linked to the adoption of the company’s vision of delivering a smoke-free future. Since then, she has helped advance PMI’s transformation, honing the company’s sustainability and ESG performance.
Ms. Motles began her career working for the Chilean Office of Drugs & Crime Prevention and Prosecution. She gained international experience working for organizations such as UNCITRAL, UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch, and the UNCTAD/WTO’s International Trade Center. Prior to joining PMI, Jennifer worked for the government of Israel, representing the country as its Human Rights & Humanitarian Affairs Officer at the United Nations and other international organizations.
She holds a JD degree from Universidad de Chile—Escuela de Derecho, and an LLM degree from University of California, Berkeley School of Law, as well as specialized diplomas in Women’s Human Rights, Behavioral Economics, Sustainability, Sustainable Finance, and Political Affairs from IHEID, Harvard Business School, the Harvard School of Public Health, and Stanford University.
Eliza Riego
Head of product and service innovation
TMX Group
Eliza Riego, Head Product and Service Innovation, studied Environmental Studies and Geographic Information Systems prior to joining TMX Group. Having worked in multiple departments at TMX, over the last 12 years, Eliza has been focused on developing products, services and professional development opportunities for publicly listed companies on Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange. Recently, Eliza created ESG 101, a hub for ESG resources for issuers, and co-produced the updated Primer for Environmental & Social Disclosure.
Hunter Wells
Vice president of investor relations
Century Communities
Ben Maiden
Editor-at-large
Corporate Secretary
Ben Maiden is the editor-at-large of Corporate Secretary, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. He had previously been managing editor of Compliance Reporter since January 2007, covering regulatory and compliance issues affecting broker-dealers and asset management firms. Before that, Ben was editor of International Financial Law Review and IFLR’s Americas editor, working in London and New York.
Ben Ashwell
Editor
Corporate Secretary and IR Magazine
Ben Ashwell is the editor at IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary, covering investor relations, governance, risk and compliance. Prior to this, he was the founder and editor of Executive Talent, the global quarterly magazine from the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants. Before moving to the US, Ben was the vice president and editor at Executive Grapevine, overseeing a daily news website, ten annual supplements and HR Grapevine, the UK’s leading HR and talent management magazine. In his spare time, Ben enjoys rock climbing and writing fiction and poetry.
Our attendees are leading IR and GRC practitioners with an established track record and strategic role within their company.
Below is a sample of some of our past attendees:
Job title | Company | Job title | Company | |
AVP strategy & sustainability | Canadian Western Bank | Head of investor relations, Americas | Omron Corporation | |
CCO | Edgewood Management | Partner | Fox Rothschild | |
CEO | Curley Global IR | President and CEO | Sarmaya Capital Corp | |
CFO | 5N Plus | Senior associate, financial reporting | Crescita Therapeutic | |
CFO | Lithium Americas | Senior director of corporate strategy and development | Enviva | |
Chief citizenship officer | California Water Service | Senior investor relations analyst | ||
Chief legal and compliance officer and secretary | II-VI Incorporated | Senior investor relations analyst | eHealth | |
Chief of staff | Omni Logistics | Senior investor relations analyst | Opentext | |
Corporate compliance manager | Huntington Ingalls Industries | Senior investor relations representative | American Financial Group | |
Corporate VP and chief of staff | Huron Consulting Group | Senior manager, ESG | F5 | |
Counsel, corporate and securities | The Kraft Heinz Company | Senior manager, investor relations & corporate communications | Sarepta Therapeutics | |
DEI director | PGE | Strategic partner | Metagnosis Consulting | |
Director | Kraft Heinz | SVP and head of shareholder services | Citizens Financial Group | |
Director corporate responsibility | Quest Diagnostics | SVP, corporate secretary | Kearny Bank | |
Director, corporate governance | Exchange Bank of Canada | SVP, general counsel | Louisiana-Pacific Corporation | |
Director, EH&S | Park Ohi | SVP, investor relations | JLL | |
Director, ESG & public policy | Enbridge | VP, capital markets & strategy | Calfrac Well Services | |
Director, investor relations | Brown-Forman | VP, communications and IR | Opiant | |
Director, IR, corporate communications and ESG | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings | VP, corporate social responsibility | Zillow Group | |
Director, research and thought leadership | CPA Ontario | VP, deputy general counsel & chief enterprise risk officer | Clarios | |
Director, sustainability | Micron Technology | VP, financial planning reporting | Avery Dennison | |
ESG advisor, investor relations | Imperial Oil | VP, general counsel | Hawkins | |
EVP | Rush Enterprises | VP, investor relations | Campbell | |
Executive director, IR and communications | Urban Outfitters | VP, Investor Relations | Schnitzer Steel Industries | |
Head of corporate affairs | Vanda Pharmaceuticals | VP, IR and strategic business development | PyroGenesis Canada |
Companies going public are aligning themselves with reportin...
Lack of consistent standards remains major obstacle, notes l...
Attendees discuss preparing for climate-related rule-making,...
Lead ESG Partner
Planetly by OneTrust simplifies carbon accounting and ESG program management. Use the technology to understand, reduce and offset your emissions and operationalize the ESG metrics that are important to your organization and key stakeholders. Planetly enables your organization to analyze your and report ESG metrics in compliance with all relevant standards and drive initiatives across your organization to create sustainable competitive advantage.
Planetly by OneTrust is a part of OneTrust, the #1 most widely used privacy, security and governance platform used by more than 12,000 customers and powered by 200 awarded patents.
To learn more, visit Planetly.com
Forum Partners
Corbin was founded on the idea that insights-driven advice is a powerful catalyst for unlocking value. Leveraging proprietary research and analytics, a best-practice mindset, executional excellence, and a deep understanding of what influences sentiment, we deploy a proven model to realize value. We work with organizations globally, across all sectors and sizes, as our knowledge and insights drive breakthrough thinking and impact. We collaborate with our clients to execute sound, effective communication, and engagement strategies.
For more information, please visit corbinadvisors.com
Cowen Inc. (“Cowen” or the “Company”) is a diversified financial services firm that operates through two business segments: a broker dealer and an investment management division. The Company’s broker dealer division offers investment banking services, equity research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services. Cowen’s investment management division builds on Cowen’s core insights by developing differentiated, actively managed investment strategies that seek to meet the dynamic needs of our clients. Founded in 1918, the firm is headquartered in New York and has offices worldwide. Learn more at Cowen.com
Leaders Arena is an ESG-focused independent advisory firm that leverages 30+ years of direct ESG, Investor Relations and Corporate Governance experience. Based in the UK and the US, we help companies maximize the impact of their ESG-related initiatives. Our global clients come to us seeking unbiased guidance and hands-on support. With highly customisable programmes, we focus on client needs as they evolve and create tangible value for our clients.
We provide a full range of consultancy services, tactical support, ESG research and SRI perception studies which have been designed to empower companies to better communicate their sustainability story to the market. Amidst growing investor expectations on companies, Leaders Arena guarantees unparalleled client focus in the corporate advisory space. We bring an independent, outside view to supplement company internal resources and knowledge allowing clients to maintain control of their own practices and communication strategy.
For us, every client is different and therefore we offer tailored solutions as opposed to ‘one-size-fits-all’ services. We care about our clients and provide holistic support to their needs. We have helped companies across sectors and supported hundreds of professionals responsible for ESG communications. Get in touch to learn how you can benefit from our unique support.
NAVEX is the recognized leader in risk and compliance management software and services, empowering thousands of customers around the world to manage and mitigate risks with confidence. NAVEX’s mission is to help customers promote ethical, inclusive workplace cultures, protect their brands and preserve the environment through sustainable business practices. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Sentieo is a financial and corporate research platform for executives, investment analysts, and researchers that offers them the insights, speed, and confidence they need to make informed strategic decisions so they can outperform the market and gain a competitive edge. Learn more at Sentieo.com.
Supporting partners
Founded in 1969, NIRI is the professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, shareholders, securities analysts and other financial community constituents. NIRI is the largest professional investor relations association in the world with more than 3,300 members representing over 1,600 publicly held companies and $9 trillion in stock market capitalization.
For more information, please visit www.NIRI.org
The NIRI Silicon Valley Chapter was formed to advance the practice of investor relations within the local business environment. In keeping with this mission, the Chapter focuses on IR education, mentoring, and networking with the broad professional community. Our goal is to further the skills of our members, to expand their business opportunities, to increase Chapter membership, and to foster an environment that promotes IR learning for all.
For more information, visit nirisv.org.
The Virtual Chapter is the second largest chapter in the NIRI ecosystem, with over 230 members representing 160+ publicly traded companies from a wide range of professional experiences, industries, geographies and market caps. The Virtual Chapter has been providing online educational, professional development and networking opportunities for its members and the broader IR community for more than 16 years, and is the only NIRI chapter to offer CPE credits in addition to IRC PDUs. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Why partner with us?
The ESG Integration Forum – Summer brings together some of the most influential people in the IR and GRC communities.
The event offers an effective approach to targeting clients when they are exploring how they can improve their IR and GRC practice. Through our unrivalled knowledge of the subject matters and commitment to in-depth agenda research, our events are guaranteed to attract a qualified audience.
The unique buzz we create at our virtual events – a far cry from a webinar – makes them multi-faceted and highly interactive with great engagement in particular from heads of IR and governance teams. This allows our partners to have meaningful conversations with corporates who are deciding which parts of their ESG program to invest in, which service providers to engage and consultants to retain. By partnering with us on an event, you can generate leads, showcase your thought leadership and position yourselves as the partner of choice to the IR and GRC communities.
We’d love to have a chat with you about how you can get in front of a truly engaged and motivated audience at the ESG Integration Forum – Summer. Get in touch with Ian Richman or call on +1 212 430 6865.
In the last 12 months, IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary’s virtual events have attracted the highest, most diverse and senior attendees and experts in investor relations and governance
Before you attend
At the venue
If you have any questions about the measures in place, please contact [email protected].
The super early bird rates shown will expire on Friday, May 27, 2022. After this date the price will increase to the early bird rate of $295.
If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Gardiner at [email protected] or +44 20 8090 0556.
|
If you are unable to attend the event due to Covid-19 symptoms, a positive test result or travel restrictions, the following options will be available to you:
If for any reason the organizers need to postpone the event, the following options will be available to you:
Please note that IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary are not responsible for individual reimbursement of flights or accommodation arrangements in either of the above scenarios. |
For partnership inquiries
+1 212 430 6865
For agenda inquiries
+44 20 8004 4818
For all other inquiries
+44 20 8090 0556